The CPA is a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) organization currently made up of 24 cities and two counties in Southern California that will purchase electricity for sale to their communities. The CPA intends to purchase cleaner, more renewable electricity and offer it to their customers at a cost that is less than Southern California Edison (SCE). The CPA also intends to develop energy programs to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the effects of climate change. This may include providing incentives and rebates for rooftop solar and battery storage systems, energy efficiency projects, and reduced charging rates for electric vehicles.

The CPA will start offering electric service to customers in Culver City sometime in 2018. 60 days before prior, customers will receive two Notice Letters asking them if they want to remain with SCE or if they want to select one of the “tiers” available from the CPA. SCE customers who do not respond to the letters will automatically be enrolled as customers of the CPA at the 100% renewable power tier level.

Regardless of whether a customer switches from SCE to the CPA or which tier the CPA customer selects, SCE will continue to meter customers’ use of electricity, generate and mail invoices, and maintain the transmission & distribution infrastructure needed to provide electricity to CPA customers.

Currently, most customers are enrolled in SCE’s base tier, which offers 34% renewable power. The CPA however, will offer a base tier of 36% renewable power at a cost that is 4% less than SCE. SCE also offers 50% and 100% renewable power tiers at an increased cost through their Green Tariff program. Here are the tiers the CPA will be offering their customers and how they compare to SCE:

Clean Power Alliance (CPA) Plan

Net Bill Discount Compared to SCE’s 34% base tier

Net Bill Discount from

SCE’s Comparable Plan

36% Renewable

4% less cost

4% less cost

50% Renewable

3% less cost

12% less cost

100% Renewable

7% more cost

10%less cost

Regardless if a customer chooses to enroll into the CPA or not, they have the ability to select a different renewable tier offered by the CPA or to return to SCE at any time. If a customer is automatically enrolled into the CPA as a result of not responding to the two Notice Letters, they have 60 days to notify the CPA that they wish to switch back to SCE (or change the CPA tier selected on their behalf) at no charge. After 60 days, there may be a small transaction fee to change providers.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Joe Susca, Senior Management Analyst at 310-253-5636 or via e-mail at joe.susca@culvercity.org

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Clean Power Alliance

What types of default product options do the other CCAs offer?

The other CCAs in California have offerings similar to the ones being offered by CPA. Some do not offer a base tier (36%) that is comparable to SCE; rather, they start at 50% renewable energy. Here is a summary of what other CCA’s are currently offering in California:

Service Area

Product 1

Product 2

Product 3

Clean Power Alliance

36% Renewable

50% Renewable

100% Renewable

SCE Service Area:

Apple Valley Choice Energy

36% Renewable

50% Renewable

Lancaster Choice Energy

36% Renewable

50% Renewable

Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy

50% Renewable

100% Renewable

PG&E Service Area:

Clean Power SF

40% Renewable

100% Renewable

East Bay Community Energy

More Renewable than PG&E

100% Renewable

Marin Clean Energy

50% Renewable

100% Renewable

100% Local Renewable

Peninsula Clean Energy

50% Renewable

100% Renewable

Redwood Coast Energy Authority

42% Renewable

100% Renewable

Silicon Valley Clean Energy

50% Renewable

100% Renewable

Sonoma Clean Power

42% Renewable

100% Renewable

(The table above was prepared by the CPA)

What choices will I have during the 60-day enrollment period?

Customer Action

Join CPA?

% Renewable Energy

Effect on Bill (estimate)

Do nothing

Yes

Default tier TBD by the City Council on 2/26/18

Default tier impact TBD by the City Council on 2/26/18

Reply: Remain with SCE

No

The existing 34%, 50% or 100% tier you currently have with SCE

No change

Reply: Select the 36% tier

Yes

36% renewable energy

4% less cost than SCE’s 34% base tier.

Reply: Select the 50% tier

Yes

50% renewable energy

3% less cost than SCE’s 34% base tier

Reply: Select the 100% tier

Yes

100% renewable energy

7% more cost than SCE’s 34% base tier

Are CPA customers still eligible for CARE, FERA, the Summer Discount Plan and Medical Baseline discounts?

Yes. CARE, FERA, the Summer Discount Plan and Medical Baseline discounts are available to CPA customers as well as SCE customers. The same discount applies regardless of enrollment with the CPA or SCE. Since customers enrolled in the CPA continue to receive their CARE, FERA, the Summer Discount Plan and Medical Baseline discount within their SCE delivery charges, there is no need to reapply for the discounts as a CPA customer. New CARE, FERA, Summer Discount Plan and Medical Baseline enrollments or renewals must still be done through SCE's customer service center or their website.

How do I choose not to participate in the CPA program?

60 days prior to offering any CPA service, SCE customers will be sent at least two Notice Letters via U. S. Post. Customers need to respond to these letters, saying they will opt-out of the CPA if they wish to remain with SCE. Customers can also learn more through a dedicated CPA phone number and the CPA website. After that initial period, if customers do not respond and are automatically enrolled into the CPA, they may opt-out at any time. However, there will be a small fee to do so.

How much will it cost to opt-out?

Within 60 days following the effective service date, a customer can opt-out at no cost. After that, the CPA anticipates a $1.50 fee to switch back to SCE.

How will I be notified that I may opt-out?

The CPA and Culver City will publicize the opt-out period and opt-out instructions in many ways, such as: the two Notice Letters sent by the CPA via U.S. Post, e-mail blasts, social media, the City’s website, and press releases.

Will all customers in Culver City get the same CPA default tier?

Yes, unless the customer selects a different CPA tier by responding to one of the two Notice Letters they receive in the mail.

Is there any coal or nuclear power in the electricity that the CPA purchases?

The CPA will not sign any contracts that include energy from coal or nuclear power resources.

Why does Culver City need to make a “default” renewable energy tier decision?

The CPA will launch its service to commercial/industrial customers in June 2018. In anticipation of this launch, the CPA needs to know what kind/how much of each type of electricity each member city (including Culver City) needs so the CPA can purchase adequate amounts from their power producers.

Can CPA member cities change their default option in the future?

Yes. The CPA anticipates that each of its member cities (including Culver City) will be asked once per year to select the default renewable energy tier for their community.

Does the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) or SCE have to approve the default option?

No. The default renewable energy tier selection only needs to be approved by the Culver City Council.

Are the tier rates final for CPA service starting in June 2018?

No. The stated rates are based upon the CPA’s best estimates of future power costs. The power contracts and final rates will be finalized by April 2018 for approval by the CPA Board. It is very likely that the final rates will offer the same percentage differences as stated above.

How long will the tier rate comparison table between the CPA and SCE apply?

SCE changes their rates annually at the beginning of each calendar year and smaller rate changes may occur throughout the year. The CPA anticipates that the rate comparison will apply until January 2019, when both SCE and the CPA will likely change their rates.

Are CPA customers still eligible to participate in SCE programs, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy incentive programs?

Yes. CPA customers remain eligible for SCE rebate programs since those are funded by Public Purpose Program fees. Those fees will still be listed on SCE bills.

If a customer has solar panels and participates in a net energy metering rate, will they still get that rate when enrolled in the CPA program?

Yes. The CPA will offer Net Energy Metering rates that are the same or better than those currently offered by SCE.

How will the CPA procure power to meet the default renewable energy tier selected?

The CPA will have a combination of short and long-term contracts with a variety of power suppliers to meet the energy needs of all its member city customers (including Culver City). The exact proportion of renewable resources varies with time and is based on demand and availability. The CPA will provide detailed information about their power supply in their annual Power Content Label report.

How can Culver City be sure that the CPA is actually procuring 36%, 50% or 100% renewable energy on behalf of its customers?

The CPA is required to submit annual reports to the California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission to verify the amount of renewable energy delivered to its customers. This is the same verification method SCE has to follow.